Written by

Alexis Schulman

Staff Writer

Despite a 65-56 win over Saint Leo, spirits were down for the Seminoles as they stressed the need to find a rhythm heading into the regular season.

The Seminoles’ vaunted ‘junkyard D’ engaged in a dogfight with Saint Leo in the team’s second and final exhibition game. But the team was not totally satisfied, because even though Florida State kept a consistent lead, the Lions gave them fits at times and cut the game to five points late in the second half.

“Just tried to find a rhythm, we all have to find a rhythm,” Snaer said. “We have to play together. We have to find better shot selection.”

The ’Noles turned the ball over 20 times and started off a bit slow offensively, taking their first lead of the game three minutes in. Head coach Leonard Hamilton seemed to up the intensity of his team and they picked up the pace, forcing the Lions to call a timeout after the Seminoles went on a 13-0 run in five minutes.

The timeout worked for the Lions, who sunk a three and forced Florida State to call a timeout of their own to talk defensive strategy. The ’Noles defense has lagged at points this pre-season due in part to the group of youngsters that have joined the team this year, but the defense came together and managed to hold the Lions to a field goal percentage of just 32 percent.

“I thought defensively we played with a lot more energy, and that was a test for us,” Hamilton said.

Offensively the team was led once again by junior Okaro White. White scored 11 points and snagged five rebounds in the first half alone. His quick-fire play was summed up when with five minutes remaining in the first half, he attempted a three pointer from the wing. He missed, but grabbed his own rebound and threw down a hard two-handed dunk over the top of a Saint Leo defender.

White has been showing flashes of that sort of inspired play throughout Florida State’s pre-season and could be a revelation on the court for the ’Noles if he can keep it up during conference play and down the stretch of the regular season. He finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“I think Okaro, because he has been through the wars, is a little more confident [this year],” Hamilton said.

Michael Snaer and freshman Montay Brandon helped lead the charge with 11 points apiece. Snaer also had five assists and five rebounds, while Brandon added four rebounds and a block. Brandon and Aaron Thomas saw the most minutes for the newcomers, at 16 and 17, respectively.

Florida State will take on the University of South Alabama in the season opener on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Civic Center. The Seminoles will raise their ACC Championship banner to the rafters before the game.